Девять рассказов

           "Hedoesn’tevenliveinNewYork,"BooperinformedTeddy."Andhisfather’sdead.HewaskilledinKorea."SheturnedtoMyron."Wasn’the?"shedemanded,butwithoutwaitingforaresponse."Nowifhismotherdies,he’llbeanorphan.Hedidn’tevenknowthat."ShelookedatMyron."Didyou?"

           Myron,non-committal,foldedhisarms.

           "You’rethestupidestpersonIevermet,"Boopersaidtohim."You’rethestupidestpersoninthisocean.Didyouknowthat?"

           "Heisnot,"Teddysaid."Youarenot,Myron."Headdressedhissister:"Givemeyourattentionasecond.Where’sthecamera?Ihavetohaveitimmediately.Whereisit?"

           "Overthere,"Boopersaid,indicatingnodirectionatall.Shedrewhertwostacksofshuffleboarddiscsinclosertoher."AllIneednowistwogiants,"shesaid."Theycouldplaybackgammontilltheygotalltiredandthentheycouldclimbuponthatsmokestackandthrowtheseateverybodyandkillthem."ShelookedatMyron."Theycouldkillyourparents,"shesaidtohimknowledgeably."Andifthatdidn’tkillthem,youknowwhatyoucoulddo?Youcouldputsomepoisononsomemarshmellowsandmakethemeatit."

           TheLeicawasabouttenfeetaway,nexttothewhiterailingthatsurroundedtheSportsDeck.Itlayinthedraingully,onitsside.Teddywentoverandpickeditupbyitsstrapandhungitaroundhisneck.Then,immediately,hetookitoff.HetookitovertoBooper."Booper,domeafavor.Youtakeitdown,please,"hesaid."It’steno’clock.Ihavetowriteinmydiary."

           "I’mbusy."